CANORA – The Canora Composite School Cougars junior boys basketball team completed an impressive eight win, two loss regular season under the leadership of scoring threat Brandyn Woicichowski and defensive anchor Seneca Crane.
Completing this competitive Cougars roster are left handed ball handler Knox Oswald, point guard Aidyn Tratch, big shot maker Hudson Matychuk, athletic defender Nick Rewakowsky, screen and roll threat Zarin Godhe, rebounding machine Chance Weinbender, slashing scorer Caden Doogan, late season addition C.J. Bueta and promising rookies Wade Vangen and Ethan Chabun, who both showed significant development throughout the season. Raphael Rollin missed most of the season due to injury but remained a part of the team, joining the coaching staff.
The boys defeated Sturgis, Kamsack, Yorkton’s M.C. Knoll School and were victorious twice against rival Preeceville Panthers in regular season play, thanks to clutch three-point shooting late in fourth quarters and overtime from Aidyn Tratch and Hudson Matychuck, as well as aggressive defence from Nick Rewakowsky leading to a late game steal and score.
Following the regular season, the team defeated Norquay at pre-districts in a game where rookie Ethan Chabun scored his first career points on a sweet midrange jump shot. Next up was a third intense matchup against a talented Preeceville team. The game went back and forth right until the last seconds when Hudson Matychuk hit a game winning layup to put the Cougars up 51-50 to seal the win and a first-place finish at pre-districts.
The boys carried the momentum of their pre-district championship into the district playoff tournament in Norquay on March 6 and 7. The Cougars matched up against Melville St. Henry’s first at districts and squeezed out a win to move on to the second round. Next the boys confidently defeated Yorkton MC Knoll to put themselves in the gold medal game. The Jr. boys took home silver at districts after a spirited effort, falling to a strong Yorkton Regional High School team in the first place game.
Throughout the season this talented group of young men showed incredible improvement on their basketball skills, as well as impressive sportsmanship, coachability, respect and team spirit.
Taking home a silver medal this season was no easy feat and was a well deserved end to a great season.
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